Combined corn-planter and cultivator



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

G. W. GIFFARD.

COMBINED CORN PLANTER AND GULTIVATOR.

Patented Oct. 2, 1883.

I C Illl (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheetfi.

G w. GIFFARD.

COMBINED GORN PLANTER AND UULTIVATOR. No. 285,889. Patented Oct. 2, 1883 INVEJVT IL Attorney V WITNESSES %0( UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE W. GIFFABD, or ODIN, KANSAS.

COMBINED CORN-PLANTER AND CULTIVATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters-Patent No. 285,889, dated October 2, 1883.

Application filed April 14. 1883.

' T (ZZZ whom it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE'W. GIFFARD, a citizen. of the United States, residing at Odin, in the county of Barton and State of Kansas, have invented a new and useful Gombined Corn-Planter and Oultivator, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

' This invention relates to combined cornplanters and cultivators; and it consists in certain improvements in the construction of the same, which will be hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings hereto annexed, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved machine, showing the same rigged for planting corn. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional View taken through the axle. Fig. 4 is a bottom plan View. Fig. 5 is a perspeclive view, showing the machine converted into a cultivator; and Figs. 6, 7, and 8 are detail views of detached parts of the machine.

The same letters referto the same parts in all the figures. v V

A in the drawings designates an arched frame, toihe sides or legs of which, B B, the forwardlyextending converging frame-pieces O O are secured. The lower ends of the legs B B are bent inwardly, forming brackets D D, abovewhich the axle E is journaled in boxes F F, that are secured to the legs B by means oi clips G. Upon the bracketsD D, at the lower ends of the legs B, are hinged blocks H, to the rear ends of which the cultivator-beams I are hinged in such a manner as to be capable of swinging in a horizontal plane. The said beams are of the ordinary construction, and are equipped with standards J and shovels K.

L is a beam hinged detachably between the front ends of the bars 0 O, and carrying at its rear end a standard, M, extending upwardly through a slot, N, in a lever, 0, which is piv oted to a bracket, P, at the front end of bars (3. Standard M is pivoted in the slot N by a transverse pin. The rear ends 01' the bars G are connected by a *rock shaft, Q, having an upwardlyprojecting notched arm, B, which extends upwardly through a slot, S, in the lever (J. The latter is provided with a suitable spring catch or pawl, T, engaging the notches (No model.)

in the arm R. By this mechanism the standard M, which carries at its lower end a furrow-opener, U, may be raised or lowered and set at any desired elevation.

Secured to the under side of the rock-shaft Q is a bail or bracket, V, having hooks W, upon which the cultivator-beams, which are provided with loops X, may be hung, so as to be temporarily raised fromthe ground.

The brackets D are connected with the bars 0 by forwardly-extending inclined braces Y.

Z Z are hooks hinged upon the brackets D, adjoining the braces Y and blocks H, and serving for the attachment of the draft by means-of rods A", extending rearwardly from the double-tree B. The latter is also con nected detachably with the beam L by means .of a vertical bolt, 0.

D is a bail or frame extending downwardly from the bars 0 O, and serving to support the seed-box or hopper E which is supported directly above the axle E. Upon the latter is mounted a wheel or disk, F the periphery of which extends through a slot in the bottom of the seed-box, and is provided with a series of equidistant depressions forming the seed-cups G". The axle E is provided with a sprocket= wheel, H", the arms of which register with the seed-cups.

To the under side of the frame D is secured the seedingtube I, which is provided with a hinged door, J which is held closed by the action of a spring, K The upper end of the door J has an outwardly-extending arm, L adapted to be engaged by the sprocket-wheel H which thus serves to open the said door and permit the seed to drop. In the front part of the bottom of the hopper is placed a cutoff, which consists of a suitable casing, 1W, inclosing a fiat spring, N, which bears upon the periphery of the seeding-wheel.

O and P are the wheels, the former of which is mounted loosely upon the axle. The wheel P is formed with a clutch, Q, which engages a clutch-collar, R", secured upon the axle, and with which it is normally held in contact by a spring, S coiled upon the spindle between the wheel and a washer, T at the end of the spindle. U is a lever pivoted to a bracket, V,

depending from one of the frame-bars O, and having a pivoted arm, \W, provided with a collar, X', that rests against the inner end of the hub of the wheel P. The lever U has a suitable spring pawl or catch, Y engaging a segmental ratchet, Z and which serves to retain the said lever inany-position to which it may be adjusted.

The operation of this part of my invention will be readily understood from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings hereto annexed. When the wheel P is thrown into engagement with the axle,the latter is revolved, thus operating the seeding mechanism and dropping the corn at regular intervals, which are regulated by the sprocket- The wheel I? may be equipped with markers and the machine used for eheck-rowwheel.

' the machine is thus adapted to sow in drills.

I11 order to convert the machine into a cultivator, I detach from the frame the axle, the seed-box and tube, and their sup porting-frame, the beam L, the lever for setting the said beam, and the lever U and its attachments. To the sides B of the frame A, I then secure stubseparate machines.

axles A B by means of the clips G, which were previously used for securing the axle. Upon these stub-axles the wheels arejournaled. One of the stub-axles, B, has a revolving clutch-' collar, 0 to engage the clutch of the wheel P, for the purpose of preventing anything from catching in the said clutch and interfering with the operation of the machine. The latter is then ready to be used as a cultivator. For very young and tender corn I prefer to detach the front cultivator-shovels, and substitute for the same the knives or cutters D (shown in Fig. 8,) the uses and advantages of which are, obvious.

This device or machine is simple and convenient, as well as inexpensive, and it combines in one the seeder and cultivator, thus doing away with the necessity of providing The seeding attachment is also capable of being used in combination or bracket depending from the said beams,

and the hopper and seeding-tube mounted upon the said bracket, substantially as set forth.

2, The combination of the arched frame having inturned brackets at its lower ends, the cultivator-beams universally jointed to the said brackets, the converging framebeams secured to the upper end of the frame, abeam pivoted between the front ends of the converging framebeams', and having a vertical standard, a lever connected to and operating said standard, a rock-shaft connecting the rear ends of the converging beams, arack-bar secured to said rockshaft and engaging a pawl or catch upon the adjusting-lever, and a bail secured upon the under side of the rock-shaft and having hooks to support the cultivator-beams in a raised position, as set forth.

3. The combination of the arched frame having inturn'ed brackets, as described, the converging frame-bars braced to said brackets, Y

hooks hinged upon said brackets, the beam pivoted between the converging bars, the whiffletree secured upon said beam, and rods connecting the whiffietree with the hinged hooks, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination of the arched frame, the axle journaled in boxes clipped detachably to said frame, the seed-wheel and sprocketwheel upon said axle, the transporting-W11eels mounted loosely upon the axle, mechanism for connecting one of said wheels with the axle, the converging bars secured to the frame, a bracket secured to the same, the seed box and tube mounted upon said bracket, the cut-off in the seed-box, a door hinged in the seed-tube and. having an"outwardly-projecting arm engaging the sprocket-wheel, and a spring arranged to keep the said door automatically closed, as set forth.

5. The combination of the frame, the axle having a stationary clutch, the wheel having a clutch, a spring interposed between said wheel and a washer upon the-end of the spindle, a lever pivoted to the frame, and an arm piv-v oted upon said lever and having a collar bearing against the inner side of the hub of the wheel, as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' GEORGE WASHINGTON (llFFARl). Witnesses:

LEVI J. GIFFARD, I. G. HIRNE. 

